How to Use Public Transport in Iran
As a tourist you may travel around a country using the pre-arranged tour transport or taxis that you book at the hotel reception. When coming to Iran, do not feel stuck in the frame of a tourist description. Using public transport is an experience you need to try while are in Iran.
How to Use Metro in Tehran
Tehran Metro is expanding very quickly and has already transformed the way the city moves. Metro and its quick access to different corners of the city has cut journey times by up to an hour. It has also connected Tehran to Karaj and this cross-town trip has saved all commuters of these two cities a lot of time and money.
Five lines criss-cross the entire city and 1000 train carriages carry more than 3 million travelers across the city per day. The fast-expanding metro system in Tehran is well maintained and quite affordable.
When traveling on Tehran Metro, bear in mind that the first and the last carriages are specifically for women. Though, women are free to travel in the rest of carriages.
Day tickets and multi-day tickets are discounted and logically the longer the ticket is for, the cheaper the tickets. You can use Persia Travel Money card to make a transaction or withdraw cash from ATM and pay to buy your ticket.
Since the majority of the travelers are Iranian and Persian speaker, the announcements are in Persian only. It is recommended that travelers keep an eye on the English maps in carriages.
How to Use Buses in Tehran
BRT is the most useful and rapid buses on dedicated lanes in Tehran. The BRT carries about 2 million people a day. Travelers can either pay cash to drivers or buy pre-paid cards to tap their card to pay for their ride. Travelers can use Persia Travel Money card to make a transaction or withdraw cash from ATM purchase their Bus and Metro card from ticket machines at metro stations, and BRT stops.
Local bus network in Tehran is quite extensive. Although buses are very crowded and slow compared with the Metro, they are relatively cheap compared with taxis and other transportation systems.
You can either pay cash to drivers at the end of your journey or tap your pre-paid Bus and Metro Card to pay for your ride. Using Persia Travel Money card, the cards can be charged at ticket booths in every bus stop or bus terminals.
How to take a taxi in Iran?
Taking a taxi in Iran is very common and it is an experience you need to try while are in Iran. There are three main types of taxis in Iran: yellow taxis, unofficial taxis (taxi shakhsi), and ridesharing cars.
Yellow taxis belong to the largest and official taxi companies in Iran. There some routes that the yellow taxis drive from-to. But it does not mean that you cannot hire a taxi for a certain route. They have a only accept cash for their fare. You can use Persia Travel Money card to withdraw cash from ATM and pay your driver cash.
Let’s say you are in Tehran at Golestan Palace and want to use the rest of your day to visit Azadi Tower. All you need to do is to walk to Khayam Street and take a taxis of rout 515 to 2nd Roundabout of Sadeghieh (Falakeh Dovom Sadeghieh). You can get off the taxi in Azadi Square.
Ridesharing Apps
Tap30 and Snapp are two main ridesharing apps in Iran which you can download on your iOS and Android and activate them upon your arrival. You need an Iranian SIM card to register a number and also an internet connection to use the app. You can buy a pay-as-you-go sim card from the airport or newsstands anywhere in Iran. Simply activate your Snapp and Tap30 account and charge your account using of Persia Travel Money.
You only need to select your starting point location and search your destination or choose your destination or the place you want to go. Your trips by these apps can make exploring Tehran an easier experience.
You can use a Persia Travel Money card to either pay spending your credit or you can withdraw cash from any ATMs across the country to pay cash to your driver. Tap30 and Snapp are quite popular and very affordable in Iran.
